AUBURN HILLS – The Detroit Pistons are like most Michigan
sports fans these days.

They've got a case of Tigers fever.

When not tending to business at training camp this week, the
Pistons have been following what's happening with the Tigers and will be
watching when they face the Oakland A's today in Game
1 of the American League Division Series.

"I'm going to try and get down there this weekend and watch
a game," said forward Jonas Jerebko. "It's exciting for the city of Detroit.
When I came back two weeks ago, they were three games out of the playoffs and
now they're in the payoffs. It's very exciting stuff.

"I hope I can find some time to get down there and watch
game. Nobody wants to play Detroit with the team they have, Miguel (Cabrera) and
all those guys. It's going to be fun."

"You have to," said guard Will Bynum. "I'm not really a
baseball fan but what Cabrera did was great for the city, for everything, for
the game of baseball. When someone does something that hasn't been done since
1967, it captures anyone 's eyes.

"I kind of follow from afar. I'm more of a football guy. But
I'll definitely be following. I'm supportive of the tigers despite what they
did to my White Sox. I'm from Chicago. I'm rooting for the Tigers."

Like Bynum, rookie forward Kyle Singler is more of a
football fan.

That said, he'll keep tabs on the Tigers when the Pistons
aren't busy with training camp.

"With the thing that's happen with the team, them making the
playoffs and Miguel winning the Triple Crown, I'll be following," Singler said.
"I think they'll do well. It's tough to say which team will win but I think
they'll compete and play hard."

Coach Lawrence Frank, a native of New Jersey, was a Yankees
fan growing up.

Frank is a big sports fan so he likes what he's seen from
Cabrera and the Tigers, who earned a playoff berth in consecutive years for the
first time since 1934-45.

"What the Tigers have done is phenomenal," Frank said. "What
Cabrera has done, it's historical. You want to see them take advantage and go
all the way, especially how it was looking three weeks ago. They stayed the course.

"I'm really happy for them. It's great for the city. Even
though I'm a Yankees fan, I'm pulling hard for the Tigers. Detroit is home now.
We're hoping they can do it."

But what if the Tigers beat the A's and face the Yankees for
a spot in the World Series?

"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," Frank said
with a laugh.